Dukes snd Fairies

Dukes and Fairies is about the elderly Annie who has fallen on hard times and likes living rough sleeping on a park bench.  Tolerated by the local policeman but mainly ignored by passers by Annie’s only friend is a pigeon who she carries on a very one-sided conversation with.  She dreams of the day when a fairy will bring her morning tea in bed. Along comes Mary who doesn’t ignore Annie but shares her flask of tea,  listens to her story and fulfils Annie’s dream of morning tea in bed. 

Pat Garrod wrote Dukes and Fairies for adults.  It therefore presents a double challenge for very young actors. Firstly to understand their characters and secondly, as naturally as possible, to create the persona of a much older person through body language.  In the main I thought this young cast all achieved this well.  Where one or two fell down was in delivery of dialogue.  Everyone was extremely fluent with dialogue but at times it did lack inflection with sentences running together.  It is important to think about what one says and the way it is said as well as listen to the other person and think about their reaction and your interaction with them.  For example, Annie speaks to the policeman and her friend the pigeon in different ways. Therefore she would alter her speech pattern to reflect who she is talking to or interacting with.  That is just an example, it is not a criticism of a performance. 

Lighting and sound were good and the costuming was excellent.  To have young actors wearing costumes that fit well is always a bonus on the presentation front.  The park bench and the lamppost were suitable for the setting but the two garden chairs were, in my opinion, a bit incongruous.  It may perhaps be better to use a waste bin or just a couple of planters or bushes in their place.  

Well done Millie Sutcliffe as Annie who slept motionless on her park bench covered by a ragged blanket all the time the audience were assembling.  In fact so still was she we didn’t realise anyone was there until she was woken by the policeman.  Millie’s diction was excellent throughout.  Body language was good and the stiffness of movement well done.  Nice collapse off the bench too.  Just think about variation in the pace of dialogue.  This was a nice characterisation.

Charlie Crick as the Police Constable did well.  His concern for Annie was obvious and he had good movement round the stage.  Dialogue was well delivered but think about inflection, particularly when showing concern.  Another nice characterisation.

George Keeble as Charlie the park keeper managed the business of littler picking in conjunction with dialogue very naturally.  There was nice interaction with Annie too.

Evie Street did her little cameo nicely.  She seemed to be a bit uncomfortable stuck between the edge of the bench and the proscenium which inhibited her slightly. Perhaps moving her around whilst she was speaking to Annie to get her to the other end of the bench may have helped.

Isobel Chambers and Rihanna Roe made nicely gossiping Chars as did Evie Street, Ruby Chambers and Bethany Webb as chatty women. Bethany also played the Young Clerk nicely.  

An example of good characterisation came from Abigail Nation and Madison Campbell as Carol and Mary respectively.  This pair of actresses worked exceptionally well together and their little scene was a joy.  The continuation of the scene with Mary talking to Annie was also very well done.  Madison Campbell is still on my “one to watch” list joined this year by Abigail.  Well done both.

Harry Keeble and Ryle Weaver as Harold and John made pretty believable businessmen.  They worked together well. 

There is a saying that’s there are no small roles only small actors.  Well Passer By may have been a small (non-speaking) role and Suki Ben Saud may be a small actor but to convincingly walk across the stage carrying on an imaginary conversation with another person and make is look natural is an achievement. Well done.

This is a lovely little play nicely directed by Barry Starr and the cast had obviously understood what was needed of them. Good luck at Hunstanton.

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